Apr. 10, 2014

The situation on a Nevada ranch continues to heat up. Federal agents from the Bureau of Land Management have begun seizing the cattle of Cliven Bundy, after a longstanding dispute over grazing rights on public land. Armed officers have used helicopters, dump trucks, and four-wheel drive vehicles to remove cattle from the land, amid mounting protests from neighbors and concerned citizens.

Tensions ran high on Wednesday when a group of protesters outside of the ranch confronted armed federal agents, who were also using tasers and dogs to intimidate the crowd. At one point, agents used those tasers on the protesters in an effort to quell their demonstration.

Cliven Bundy’s son, Ammon Bundy, says he was the one who was tased. He showed Action News a wound on his neck and a blood stain on his white shirt, which he says are from the taser. Bundy says that his aunt was also knocked to the ground by a BLM official during Wednesday’s protest.

Dramatic cellphone video captured by another protester shows an altercation between officials and protesters.

Both Gov. Brian Sandoval and Sen. Dean Heller have condemned the BLS for what they characterize as heavy-handed actions involving Bundy and other Silver State residents.

“No cow justifies the atmosphere of intimidation which currently exists nor the limitation of constitutional rights that are sacred to all Nevadans,” Sandoval, a Republican, said. “The BLM needs to reconsider its approach to this matter and act accordingly.”

Heller, also a Republican, said he told BLM Director Neil Kornze the situation is being handled poorly.

“I told him very clearly that law-abiding Nevadans must not be penalized by an over-reaching BLM,” Heller said.

Bundy spoke as a townhall meeting on Wednesday afternoon, after his cattle had been seized by federal officials: